Is the divine hunter hunter enough of a "nature-themed"* class to get access to terrain domains or does their domain ability still limit them to deity domains?
*Referring to:
Other nature-themed classes with access to domains may select an animal or terrain domain in place of a regular domain.
AFAIK the hunter is the closest thing to a "nature-themed" class since the druid, but their domain ability only mentions deity domains.
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Do you know that it is a good habit to link what you reference in your question?
It was printed in Ultimate magic, well before the Hunter was printed (ACG). Almost certainly it refers to:
- clerics with the animal and plants domain and an appropriate deity;
- rangers that get access to a domain through a prestige class or other methods.
I would say that a Divine Hunter with the right deity can pick them, but the Hunter isn't more nature-themed than a Ranger.
Do you know that it is a good habit to link what you reference in your question?
It was printed in Ultimate magic, well before the Hunter was printed (ACG). Almost certainly it refers to:
- clerics with the animal and plants domain and an appropriate deity;
- rangers that get access to a domain through a prestige class or other methods.I would say that a Divine Hunter with the right deity can pick them, but the Hunter isn't more nature-themed than a Ranger.
I think casting druid list spells makes hunters more nature-themed than a ranger. The fact that they're a hybrid class of the ranger and druid should support that too, assuming druids are the most nature-themed class.
So choosing a generic terrain domain like plains should be ok for a divine hunter?
Does Iomedae object to plains? Or do you mean it has to be a deity with the animal or plant domain?
Normally, a Hunter is without any doubt nature themed (their spellcasting is described as "nature spells"). The issue is that the archetype deliberately moves away from that: "While most hunters heed the call of nature and fight to protect its bounty, some are inspired to serve a higher power."
Since the rule is flavor based, the archetype's flavor text is actually relevant, and to me it clearly says that the Divine Hunter isn't nature themed. I would say the deciding factor is where the spellcasting comes from - for Druids, Rangers, and vanilla Hunters, that's nature (and I'd count Shaman with its "nature spirits" source for it, too), but Divine Hunter gets its power from a deity instead.
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Definitely going to fall into the realm of "Up to your GM"
In addition to the "nature themed" requirement there's a second clause in the general rules on animal and terrain domains that is going to be key:
A druid who worships a deity (as opposed to nature in general) cannot select an animal or terrain domain that contradicts or is outside of the portfolio of her deity.
So while it might make sense for Gozreh to grant the Aquatic Domain, or Easivra to grant the Eagle domain, it wouldn't make sense for Shelyn to grant the Caves domain.
A lot of the choices are infinitely debatable and are going to be completely a GM call. Can Torag grant the mountains domain? I mean, mountains aren't explicitly in his portfolio but come on - mountains, dwarves?
In the particular case of Iomedae and plains I probably would say no. You could argue that since her sacred animal is a lion and you often find those on plains it could fit, but it seems like a stretch to me. May not be a stretch to your GM.